Mocha Emeralds at Lowes-Amey Drain, Burford Twp, Brant

[Bill Lamond]

Hi,

Yesterday (30 July) I went looking for Somatochlora emeralds at the above location as I had observed a couple foraging in this area two years ago but was unable to catch one for ID. I suspected Williamson's but you need to catch one or have a very good photo.

I walked the edge of the Lowes-Amey Drain which cuts through large forested tracks of Burford Township. The section I walked was S of 4th Concession Rd. The drain crosses the 403 just N of here. The walking was easy as the landowner cuts the grass along the bank for close to a km (permission granted to walk this property). I eventually saw a couple of emeralds "tangling" right over the watercourse so I knew to catch one I would have to catch a patrolling male. It took me a bit but I eventually caught a male Mocha Emerald. I eventually caught another and saw a total of five patrolling males.

They were fascinating to watch as they hovered over the creek in slow motion flight with occasional bursts of speed.

Although it is a drain, it flows all year and the water quality is good as it drains the farm fields at the north edge of the Norfolk Sand Plain. It suffers from eutrophication as can be seen in the sunlit areas where there are strands of algae. I've included a couple of photos of the habitat.

Mocha Emerald may be found in many more woodlots in south-western Ontario where there are streams, especially intermittent streams with permanent pools. Water quality does not seem to matter much.

Bill